Chapter 25.34 — A-R AGRICULTURE-RECREATION ZONE

The purpose of this zone is to establish areas to protect and preserve park lands, wilderness areas, open spaces, beach preserves, scenic areas and historic sites, open ranges, watersheds and water supplies, to conserve fish and wildlife, and to promote forestry, farming and grazing. (Ord. 732, 1973; Ord. 942, 1978)

• (A) Commercial agricultural use, including all types of agriculture and horticulture, grazing, small animal farms not including commercial kennels, poultry and squab farms.

  • (1) Agricultural employee housing as an accessory use in conjunction with an approved commercial agricultural use and subject to the standards prescribed by Section 25.34.009 ;

• (B) Buildings occupied by the owner or lessee of the land upon which such buildings are located, provided that a building site area of not less than ten acres is provided for each such building;

• (C) Apiaries, upon the following conditions:

  • (1) No occupied hives shall be closer than one hundred fifty feet to any street or highway,

  • (2) No occupied hives shall be closer than four hundred feet to any existing dwelling not on the premises or the premises of another apiary, unless the written consent of the owner of such dwelling is secured,

  • (3) No occupied hives shall be closer than fifty feet to any property line common to other property lines other than property lines of another apiary;

• (D) The keeping of equines or bovines for purposes other than grazing upon the following conditions:

  • (1) Such animal keeping shall not be for any commercial purpose,

  • (2) There shall be no shelter or supplementary feeding of, or any structures designed for such shelter or such feeding of said animals, within seventy-five feet of the right-of-way line of any street;

• (E) Wildlife refuges. (Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 1680 § 6, 2022)

The following uses are permitted subject to a conditional use permit:

• (A) Country clubs or recreational facilities, all;

• (B) Riding and hiking clubs and trails;

• (C) Parks, playgrounds and athletic fields (public and private);

• (D) Commercial stables;

• (E) Public utility substations;

• (F) In connection with agricultural use, no more than one roadside stand for sale of agricultural products proposed on the premises; provided that no such stand shall exceed five hundred square feet in floor area nor be erected within twenty feet of the property line fronting any street.

• (Ord. 732, 1973; Ord. 942 § 8, 1978)

The following uses are specifically not permitted because of their tendency to create substances, conditions or situations that may be dangerous, objectionable or incompatible with the permitted uses in this zone or in adjoining areas:

• (A) Hog and commercial livestock feeding ranches;

• (B) Farms operated publicly or privately for the disposal of garbage, sewage, rubbish or offal;

• (C) The commercial stockpiling or processing of manure. (Ord. 209, 1940)

• (A) Lot Area. Each building site shall have a minimum area of ten acres;

• (B) Lot Dimensions—Minimum Width. Each lot shall measure at least two hundred feet wide, measured at the ultimate right-of-way line;

• (C) Building Height. No building or structure shall exceed the maximum building height, as set forth in Chapter 25.08 ;

• (D) Yards.

  • (1) General Provisions:

    • (a) The general provisions of Chapter 25.50 shall apply,

    • (b) A swimming pool and its accessory equipment shall not be located in the required front yard, nor closer than five feet from a side or rear lot line,

  • (2) Front Yard—fifty feet; except where lot adjoins major arterial, in which case a one hundred foot setback is required,

  • (3) Side and Rear Yard—fifty feet;

• (E) Fences, Hedges and Walls.

  • (1) Required Fences and Walls:

    • (a) To surround and protect all swimming pools or bodies of water ten inches deep or deeper; minimum four feet high, latches four feet above ground,

    • (b) Security devices as determined to be reasonably necessary by the senior building official,

  • (2) Permitted Fences and Walls: Fences, hedges and walls are subject to approval by conditional use permit and must provide for visual access to the property;

• (F) On-Site Turnaround. On-site turnaround is required for all lots fronting on arterial or major residential collector streets; to the standards of the city;

• (G) Signs. The provisions of Chapter 25.54 of these regulations shall apply;

(H) Off-Street Parking. The provisions of Chapter 25.52 shall apply. (Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 732, 1973)

The development and use of agricultural employee housing shall comply with the following standards:

• (A) Agricultural employee housing shall be occupied only by farm employees (and their households) engaged in commercial agricultural labor;

• (B) No more than 36 beds in a group quarters or up to 12 units are allowed on an individual parcel;

• (C) At least one parking space per unit or one space per three beds, whichever is more, shall be provided;

• (D) The property owner shall obtain all permits and/or approvals from the City of Laguna Beach, as applicable, and the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) pursuant to Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations. Agricultural housing shall also comply with all development standards and require a Coastal Development Permit pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 25.07 of the Municipal Code;

• (E) Prior to the submittal of the permit application for agricultural employee housing, the property owner shall provide appropriate evidence to the satisfaction of the Director of Community Development of an active commercial agricultural use. An equestrian-related use is not considered evidence of commercial agriculture for agricultural employee housing;

• (F) Agricultural employee housing shall be removed from the property or converted to another permitted use that is approved through all permits and approvals required by the City within 90 days of termination of the property's use from agricultural production;

• (G) A deed restriction prepared to the satisfaction of the City shall be recorded on the subject property prior to issuance of permits, declaring that the agricultural employee housing will be continuously maintained as such in accordance with the Zoning Code and that:

  • (1) The property owner will obtain and maintain, for as long as the agricultural employee housing is operated, the appropriate permit(s) from HCD pursuant to the Employee Housing Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and

  • (2) The property owner will submit the annual verification form as required by Section 25.34.009(I) to the Community Development Director;

• (H) Agricultural housing for five or more employees is subject to the permitting requirements of the California Housing Employee Act. The property owner shall obtain and maintain a permit(s) with HCD, pursuant to the Employee Housing Act and the California Code of Regulations, Title 25 , Division 1, Chapter 1, Sections 600 through 940 , prior to occupancy of the housing unit(s). A copy of the HCD permit shall be provided to the Community Development Director within 14 days of issuance or at the time of building permit application submittal, whichever is earlier; and

it(s) with HCD, pursuant to the Employee Housing Act and the California Code of Regulations, Title 25 , Division 1, Chapter 1, Sections 600 through 940 , prior to occupancy of the housing unit(s). A copy of the HCD permit shall be provided to the Community Development Director within 14 days of issuance or at the time of building permit application submittal, whichever is earlier; and

• (I) On an annual basis, the property owner must file a verification form with the Director of Community Development stating that the commercial agricultural operation is still taking place on the property and that the tenants of the dwelling units or sleeping quarters are employed as agricultural employees as defined by Section 25.08.002 , thereby renewing the agricultural certificate for the agricultural employee housing. Failure to file the verification form will be interpreted as indicating the commercial agricultural use has ceased operation and may be the basis for permit revocation.

• (Ord. 1680 § 7, 2022)